Now you're talking. We've vacationed in that area and have been impressed with Vermont as a nice place to have home, especially a hill above the town of Woodstock (or Wood something). I say "a" home, because it would come after our main home in Montectio, CA and a condo on Nob or Russian Hill in San Francisco. So far we have only our main home in Montecito. Oh, and a home in Pebble Beach might fit in just after the SF condo. As a practical matter, aren't the winters a major deterant to year-round residence?

Some folks in our area use one of the retirement commnities as their residence in Montecito or Santa Barbara. For not much over $100K you can buy into (after the waiting list) one of the deluxe retirement resorts and pay the $2K or so per month dues that includes substantial services. When you're looking at a $2.8 million median in Montecito (or $1.4 in SB), it looks to be a good solution to multiple residence ownership. And you just lock the door when you leave, assured everything will be ready for you when you return.

Casa Dorinda, the retirement resort in Montecito, not only provides meals (Julia Child lived there) and housekeeping, once you're accepted the cost is the same regardless of your care needs, including an on-campus nursing facility. Some of the heavy hitters combine multiple units to acheive that 4000+ square foot apartment so necessary for entertaining in the style to which they have become accustomed. The grounds are beautiful, it's strolling distance from the beach, and it's a five minute drive to the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest. Excellent shopping and dining are available along your stroll to the beach. Maybe we ought to get on that waiting list now!

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